You’re working laborious to market your organization. You’re writing your product descriptions, optimizing your photos, and mastering a lot of the different parts of efficient SEO (search engine optimisation).
Nonetheless, when you’re like many enterprise homeowners, one side of ecommerce search engine optimisation could possibly be providing you with bother: meta descriptions. This information covers what meta descriptions are, and the best way to write compelling meta descriptions and optimize your website for search engines like google.
What’s a meta description?
A meta description is a bit of HTML code that summarizes a webpage’s content material. It’s the snippet of textual content, typically round 160 characters lengthy, that seems beneath your web page title in search engine consequence pages.
Within the screenshot beneath, the meta description reads “Strive Shopify free and begin a enterprise or develop an present one. Get greater than ecommerce software program with instruments to handle each a part of your corporation.”
Significance of meta descriptions for search engine optimisation
Search engines like google and yahoo present it in search outcomes when the meta description additionally contains the key phrases being searched.
In contrast to the web page title, meta descriptions aren’t an search engine optimisation rating issue, however they do entice search engine customers to click on by way of to a web page and are a part of efficient on-page search engine optimisation. You’ll see them in a web page’s code as.
A meta description is the promise you make to searchers. Amongst a sea of competing webpages, it calls out to them and says, “That is the web page you’re in search of.”
Once you kind a search question into Google Search—let’s use “short-term tattoos” for instance—the algorithm shows outcomes on the search engine outcomes web page (SERP).
This web page is extraordinarily sophisticated, however for now let’s ignore all of the purchasing adverts, photos, and movies in favor of the extra conventional natural search outcomes.
The blue phrases on the high are the “title tag.” They’re the title of the webpage. Under them you’ll see a web page description of not more than 155 characters. That is the meta description. It is liable for increased click-through charges to your net web page and might not directly influence your search rankings.
Does Google rewrite meta descriptions?
Sure, Google rewrites meta descriptions. So, why hassle writing distinctive meta descriptions if Google will show no matter it needs anyway?
The final word purpose is the correlation between increased search quantity key phrases and decrease rewrite charges. Kim Herrington, an search engine optimisation and SEM marketing consultant, has specific experience in writing meta descriptions for ecommerce companies, in addition to with optimizing their shops for search.
Via Kim’s personal expertise, she’s realized that if shops goal excessive visitors key phrases, your unique meta description is extra prone to seem as you wrote it in your web site. “search engine optimisation will be time consuming and costly for ecommerce shops with a excessive quantity of merchandise,” Kim says. “Approaching your meta descriptions realizing they’ll be rewritten can liberate assets.”
Rather more productive, she suggests, is specializing in writing actually good meta descriptions to your highest quantity key phrases, as a result of Google is extra possible to make use of them: “Focus primarily in your bestsellers and class web page meta descriptions reasonably than each single merchandise you promote.”
Deal with essentially the most trafficked pages. Those that get natural visitors from search engines like google. Take your high 20 pages and ask, “Are we actually promoting the product right here, or is there a manner we are able to enhance the click-through fee?”
Meta description examples
Homepage
Studying different folks’s meta descriptions will make the method look deceptively easy, however that simplicity is the very factor that makes it so laborious to jot down. The tough 160-character restrict means the meta description ought to be longer than a sentence or two.
Good descriptions provide you with a short overview of what the positioning is about, in addition to a compelling purpose to click on the title tag. All of it occurs so rapidly and painlessly, many searchers gained’t even discover themselves making a call. They’ll merely click on on the hyperlink, satisfying their curiosity with out having to consider it.
Right here’s an instance of a related meta description:
Intelligent naming helps Dying Want Espresso pack a punch right here. With the primary three phrases, “Dying Want Espresso,” you already get an thought of what the corporate sells (espresso) and its defining model characteristic (hardcore, however tongue-in-cheek about it).
Dying Want then says it’s “right here to gas your ardour.” With these phrases, it positions itself as motivating. The phrases “highest high quality arabica + robusta” lets readers know the model sells good espresso merchandise.
Product web page
Writing meta descriptions to your product pages is a bit of simpler than writing them to your homepage, as a result of your product pages aren’t supposed to talk for your corporation as a complete.
As an alternative, they’re talking for one thing that gives a tangible profit to customers:
- Promoting spatulas? Let the reader know that this spatula will make cooking a lot simpler.
- Promoting garden mowers? Have the reader think about a quick and straightforward journey by way of the grass.
For instance of a persuasive meta description, let’s try the search consequence for So Price Loving stickers:
Instantly, and in all caps, the outline makes you understand that a number of stickers don’t final so long as you need them to. Then, SWL guarantees its stickers clear up that drawback.
Capitalizing the meta description is a daring transfer, and nobody would advocate capitalizing the entire thing. However right here it really works, as a result of the capitalization doesn’t appear to be it’s there simply to seize consideration. It additionally does the work of separating the word from the remainder of the textual content. After the word, this description works properly as a result of it retains the deal with the reader.
You do want to offer some thought of what differentiates the product. So Price Loving does this by emphasizing sturdiness and by letting its website title recommend its stickers are going to be actually, actually cool. However after that, it’s all about letting the client visualize themselves with the product.
The outline suggests the enjoyment a purchaser may get once they see the sticker as a “finest little reminder,” providing varied methods the sticker may simply match into their life: “Stick them in your automotive, laptop computer, water bottle, wherever you need to see them.”
The ending, particularly, works fantastically. It begins the sentence by suggesting the product will make you’re feeling some highly effective emotion, however then it makes you click on the title tag to seek out out what that emotion truly is.
Although some search engine optimisation consultants will inform you to ensure your meta descriptions all end with full sentences, a half-sentence can do wonders to your click-through fee (CTR).
Should you’re going to make use of this technique, it’s good to get your meta description as near the tough 160-character restrict as doable.
Class pages
The subsequent meta descriptions to deal with are your class web page, or assortment web page, meta descriptions. The aim of this web page is to group related merchandise collectively for patrons to browse. Assortment pages can present up for broad, high-volume key phrases, like “ladies’s footwear” or “males’s sandals.”
Your class web page meta description ought to draw folks in by exhibiting related details about the gathering, like how DSW lists out the totally different shoe varieties in its ladies’s footwear class.
It additionally makes use of easy motion phrases like “Store on-line for …” and “take pleasure in a big choice and free transport …” to encourage clicks from browsers.
If you wish to boost your description, Doug Pierce, director of Hong Kong–based mostly advertising and marketing company Cogney, suggests utilizing emojis. “A trick I wish to make use of is utilizing verify marks (✔️) to name out the sub-collections of merchandise we have now if it’s a product assortment web page,” he says.
Doug additionally suggests together with numbers within the description (the place related) and utilizing energy phrases like “free” or “unique” to seize folks’s consideration. And in case your retailer is working any particular provides—like free transport, prolonged warranties, or gross sales—it may be good to incorporate in a meta description as properly.
Weblog posts
Meta descriptions for weblog posts are concise summaries that seem in search outcomes. They need to hook readers and entice clicks.
Pack a punch in 150-160 characters by highlighting what makes your submit distinctive. Use robust verbs and sprinkle in key phrases naturally. An ideal meta description could make your submit stand out and increase clicks, even when it would not straight have an effect on rankings.
Social media
Meta descriptions aren’t only for search engines like google. The textual content you employ additionally exhibits up on social media websites like Fb. With out your meta description, Fb will pull no matter textual content they’ll discover on the web page.
You possibly can see this in a Fb submit from Moz, a software program firm. It is Fb submit exhibits the meta description from the online web page’s URL.
The way to write meta description
Now that you’ve got an understanding of meta descriptions, you’re most likely questioning: What are the most effective methods to use this information?
- Take into account the client mindset
- Make it distinctive
- Preserve it at optimum size
- Make it actionable
- Add a name to motion
- Use your goal key phrase
- Attempt to keep away from meta description turbines
- Use structured knowledge to affect wealthy snippets
- Take a look at meta descriptions for efficiency
1. Take into account the client mindset
First, deal with what would compel a searcher to click on in your title tag. That requires answering two questions:
- What are you providing?
- Why ought to I purchase from you?
For product pages, the primary question has a easy response: you’re providing your product. The second can be resolved by the easy reality that you just’re the one promoting the product.
Meta descriptions to your homepage are a bit of trickier. As you noticed within the Dying Want Espresso instance, the most effective factor is to repeatedly emphasize your model. That’s the one factor your entire retailer provides, and it’s the rationale clients should purchase from you.
2. Make it distinctive
Let readers know what you do, inform them about your distinctive promoting proposition, and convey this info a number of instances, as a result of the meta description isn’t a spot for subtlety. Struggling to provide you with the proper meta description to your homepage is widespread, so it’s finest to be affected person and suppose laborious about your model.
Should you’ve been round for some time, what do returning clients say about your corporation? And when you’re new, what made you suppose this enterprise would get clients?
The aim of your meta description is to get clicks, but it surely’s additionally an opportunity to point out off your model. “Consider meta descriptions as a continuation of your model and a chance to obviously outline your USP [unique selling proposition] utilizing related key phrases,” says Stephen Gentle, CMO and co-owner of mattress firm Nolah. “They’re little adverts and, although the character size can really feel constraining, are glorious brief bursts of promo.”
Discuss to folks about your corporation, formulate the outline such as you would an elevator pitch. You’ll most likely need to undergo a pair drafts. It’s necessary to get issues proper as a result of this would be the first publicity many shoppers must you and your model. You additionally don’t need to have duplicate meta descriptions all through your web site, as a result of it may hurt your probabilities of rating.
3. Preserve it at optimum size
Keep between the 155- to 160-character restrict when contemplating your meta description size. Google will possible reduce off any textual content after that. Put your most necessary textual content at first of your description, corresponding to motion phrases or a couple of phrases about your model, like Fashion Nova does beneath.
4. Make it actionable
Consider meta descriptions because the welcome mat to your ecommerce retailer. Ensure that your description is evident, thrilling, and actionable. Inform readers what they need to count on in your web page.
Keep away from utilizing too many adjectives or fancy phrases—whereas it’s tempting to jot down “superior” or “showstopping,” it would detract searchers from clicking by way of. Utilizing an energetic voice makes the textual content extra direct and interesting, which may encourage them to click on your hyperlink. Should you do use inventive copy, be sure it’s related.
This description beneath from Bonobos is a superb instance. It’s brief and motivating, and it addresses the reader straight. you’re going to seek out a terrific pair of costume pants by clicking by way of.
5. Add a name to motion
A name to motion (CTA) in your meta description will compel folks to click on by way of to your web page. They assist readers perceive what you supply and what to anticipate after clicking. For ecommerce shops, deal with totally different motivations behind their search.
If somebody’s in search of a extra broad search time period, like ladies’s footwear, you’ll discover a number of class pages rating. Individuals use class pages to browse, versus product pages the place they purchase. Mirror these intentions in your name to motion.
Some name to motion examples for ecommerce are:
- Store now
- Discover the gathering
- Uncover new developments
- Browse our merchandise
6. Use your goal key phrase
Discover a solution to embrace your goal key phrase to assist search engines like google rank your web page. Ensure that it seems like a human wrote it. For instance, stuffing all of your goal key phrases right into a meta description like “Purchase Ladies’s Sneakers, Ladies’s Tennis Sneakers, and Ladies’s Sneakers on Sale right here!” shouldn’t be search for your model, as a result of it feels pressured and robotic.
As an alternative, naturally tie the key phrase into your description, just like the Shoe Carnival instance beneath:
Be sure you try the key phrases your opponents are concentrating on as properly.
7. Keep away from meta description turbines
There’s some debate about whether or not or to not use turbines to jot down meta descriptions. Mills can produce descriptions that appear uninteresting and lack persona. However they’ll work when you’re a model with 1000’s of SKUs and never sufficient assets to jot down them.
As a small enterprise, you’re higher off writing meta descriptions manually—particularly these for pages that get a number of search visitors. Melanie Bedwell, ecommerce supervisor at drink model Olipop, agrees.
“Meta descriptions ought to be one-of-a-hand. It’s simpler to make them distinctive you probably have somebody in your workforce to jot down them,” she says. “The meta description is likely one of the finest possibilities for somebody to click on in your search consequence. I imagine it’s too necessary to go away as much as an automatic generator.”
These automated instruments are a giant purpose why Google has began intervening and rewriting descriptions. The search engine is aiming to keep away from low-quality boilerplate content material that doesn’t fulfill search intent. You may argue it’s higher to haven’t any description than a poorly written mechanically generated one.
8. Use structured knowledge to affect wealthy snippets
Structured knowledge improves how your web site seems in search outcomes. It is a particular kind of code you add to your net pages that helps search engines like google perceive your content material higher. This code tells search engines like google necessary particulars about your web page, like what sort of info it comprises.
Once you use structured knowledge accurately, search engines like google can create extra informative search outcomes to your pages. These enhanced outcomes, known as wealthy snippets, may present further particulars like product scores, costs, or occasion dates straight within the search listings.
Wealthy snippets make your search outcomes stand out. They catch folks’s consideration and infrequently result in extra clicks in your web site. By utilizing structured knowledge, you are giving your website a greater likelihood to shine in search outcomes and entice extra guests.
9. Take a look at meta descriptions for efficiency
Testing meta descriptions helps you discover out which of them work finest. It is like doing experiments to see what attracts extra folks to your web site. You possibly can create totally different variations of meta descriptions for a similar web page and examine how they carry out.
To check, use instruments like Google Search Console that present you the way many individuals click on in your search consequence. These instruments additionally inform you the place your consequence ranks in searches. Strive totally different kinds, lengths, and data in your meta descriptions. Then, watch how they have an effect on your clicks and rankings.
Write your personal meta descriptions
Whether or not you’re a newbie retailer proprietor or seasoned ecommerce webmaster, compelling meta descriptions are necessary to improve web site visitors, present good person expertise, and enhance conversion charges.
By checking the bins above, you’ll be heading in the right direction to optimizing your pages for the online and can quickly see the advantages of extra visitors and better gross sales.
Meta description FAQ
What ought to I write in a meta description?
A web page’s meta description ought to embrace a compelling abstract of the web page content material somebody is about to click on on. It ought to clearly inform them what they’ll achieve by clicking by way of. Meta descriptions ought to embrace a goal key phrase to assist search engines like google index and rank the web page.
Are meta descriptions necessary for search engine optimisation?
Sure. A meta description tag is effective for each search engines like google and net browsers. They assist browsers perceive what your web page is about and in case your web page will reply their question. A novel description can improve clicks and visibility in search.
What are the most effective meta description practices?
- Take into account a browser’s mindset
- Make it distinctive
- Preserve it at optimum size
- Make it actionable
- Add a name to motion
- Use your goal key phrase
- Haven’t got the identical meta description for a number of pages
- Keep away from meta description turbines
What ought to I do if I don’t have a meta description?
Do key phrase analysis to seek out the fitting phrases to focus on. Then comply with the steps above to jot down a top quality meta description.